Evidence for Northward Extension of the Winter Range of Magellanic Penguins along the Brazilian Coast

Abstract

Marine Ornithology 41: 195–197 (2013) It has been reported that the winter distribution of Magellanic Penguin Spheniscus magellanicus may have extended northward along the Atlantic coast of South America during the last decade (Boersma 1997, 2008; Schiavini et al. 2005). Although breeding in Argentina as far south as Tierra del Fuego, Magellanic Penguins are known to move north to waters off the Brazilian coast, travelling up to 2 700 km away from their colonies during the non-breeding season (Ruppolo et al. 2012). Individuals reach southern and southeastern Brazil from March to September, but rarely travel as far north as Rio de Janeiro (21 S) (Boersma et al. 1990). Herein, we present information to confirm the supposition that this species now occurs much farther north in Brazil than it did formerly. We do this by presenting data on the number of Magellanic Penguins that have been logged at Brazilian animal and wildlife rehabilitation centers from 2000 to 2010.